Many more oppose proposed Sangai Fest
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 5 : Opposition to the Manipur Govt's plan to host the Sangai Festival has intensified, with different organisations viz farmers' wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO), Manipur Chanura Leishem Marup (Macha Leima), Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) and the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), declaring that the current situation in the State is unsuitable for such an event.
These organizations and unions also claimed that the Government seeks to convey a misleading message regarding the situation in Manipur through the festival, without addressing the ongoing issues of displacement and restricted movement on highways.
"No time for celebration"
The farmers' wing of COCOMI, in a statement, stated that the crisis in Manipur now entering its third year has profoundly disrupted people's livelihoods.
It highlighted that thousands of individuals whose homes were burned or razed remain displaced, agricultural activities in foothill areas have been severely hampered with many fields abandoned, and crops in numerous paddy fields were destroyed in recent floods.
The statement further noted that free movement along National Highways has not been restored, gravely affecting business, education, and access to medical care, condemning the Government's plan to host the Sangai Festival at a time when the State's economy has deteriorated.
Arguing that the Government is planning to falsely project normalcy in Mani-pur, it urged the Govern- ment to cancel the festival this year.
Farmers' wing of COCOMI is an apex body of AMPFA, KaPFA, LOUSAL, LALLUP and LOYALUP.
AMSU objects
The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), in a press note issued by its information and publicity secretary Serto Rengneier Kom, stated that organising the Sangai Festival this year would be inappropriate given the situation in Manipur.
The Sangai Festival, held in Manipur since 2010, showcases the State's art, culture, natural beauty, and boosts the economy, it said and stressed that the Government, however, must prioritize addressing the pressing issues facing the State.
AMSU stated that thousands of IDPs remain in relief camps and many innocent lives have been lost amid the crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, following a violent campaign by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists.
It maintained that the Government has also failed to restore free movement along the highways or rehabilitate the displaced persons.
Saying that the Government aims to project that peace has returned in Manipur through the festival, and the same is unreasonable, AMSU endorsed the resolution taken by IDPs and COCOMI to boycott the Sangai Festival.
NIPCO questions
NIPCO asserted that the Government preparing to organise the Sangai Festival is against the interests of the people of Manipur.
Questioning the rationale behind hosting a tourism festival in a State gripped by crisis for over two and a half years, NIPCO added that not all communities will be able to participate in the event even if the Government proceeds with it.
NIPCO further stated that the Government's plan to resume the Sangai Festival before addressing free movement along the National Highways and the rehabilitation of displaced persons demonstrates a clear disregard for the people's plight.
It also questioned how the Tourism Department could approve the festival.
Proceeding with the festival would be unreasonable, NIPCO said and endorsed the resolution taken by IDPs and COCOMI to boycott the Sangai Festival.
People still suffering: CADA
In a press release, CADA stated that tens of thousands of people remain in relief camps and that Meiteis are still unable to travel safely along the National Highways.
CADA described the Government's plan to organise the Sangai Festival amid an ongoing ethnic conflict between the two communities as both surprising and unfortunate.
Emphasising that the Government prioritised the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), it declared that any attempt to portray peace as having returned to Manipur is unacceptable.
CADA urged the Government to redirect funds allocated for the Sangai Festival toward welfare initiatives for IDPs.
Calling for a boycott of the festival, CADA added that it will endorse all actions undertaken by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in opposition to the event.
Macha Leima endorses
Macha Leima said that it will fully endorse the resolution taken by the IDPs to boycott the Sangai Festival.
The organisation claimed that the Government is planning to show normalcy has returned to Manipur by organising the festival.
Pointing out that Meiteis are still unable to travel safely along the highways while IDPs remain in relief camps, it added that the Government's decision to proceed with the festival amid the ongoing crisis is unacceptable.
What people want is not festivity but normalcy, Macha Leima said.
IMPHAL, Nov 5 : Opposition to the Manipur Govt's plan to host the Sangai Festival has intensified, with different organisations viz farmers' wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), National Identity Protection Council (NIPCO), Manipur Chanura Leishem Marup (Macha Leima), Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) and the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), declaring that the current situation in the State is unsuitable for such an event.
These organizations and unions also claimed that the Government seeks to convey a misleading message regarding the situation in Manipur through the festival, without addressing the ongoing issues of displacement and restricted movement on highways.
"No time for celebration"
The farmers' wing of COCOMI, in a statement, stated that the crisis in Manipur now entering its third year has profoundly disrupted people's livelihoods.
It highlighted that thousands of individuals whose homes were burned or razed remain displaced, agricultural activities in foothill areas have been severely hampered with many fields abandoned, and crops in numerous paddy fields were destroyed in recent floods.
The statement further noted that free movement along National Highways has not been restored, gravely affecting business, education, and access to medical care, condemning the Government's plan to host the Sangai Festival at a time when the State's economy has deteriorated.
Arguing that the Government is planning to falsely project normalcy in Mani-pur, it urged the Govern- ment to cancel the festival this year.
Farmers' wing of COCOMI is an apex body of AMPFA, KaPFA, LOUSAL, LALLUP and LOYALUP.
AMSU objects
The All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), in a press note issued by its information and publicity secretary Serto Rengneier Kom, stated that organising the Sangai Festival this year would be inappropriate given the situation in Manipur.
The Sangai Festival, held in Manipur since 2010, showcases the State's art, culture, natural beauty, and boosts the economy, it said and stressed that the Government, however, must prioritize addressing the pressing issues facing the State.
AMSU stated that thousands of IDPs remain in relief camps and many innocent lives have been lost amid the crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, following a violent campaign by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists.
It maintained that the Government has also failed to restore free movement along the highways or rehabilitate the displaced persons.
Saying that the Government aims to project that peace has returned in Manipur through the festival, and the same is unreasonable, AMSU endorsed the resolution taken by IDPs and COCOMI to boycott the Sangai Festival.
NIPCO questions
NIPCO asserted that the Government preparing to organise the Sangai Festival is against the interests of the people of Manipur.
Questioning the rationale behind hosting a tourism festival in a State gripped by crisis for over two and a half years, NIPCO added that not all communities will be able to participate in the event even if the Government proceeds with it.
NIPCO further stated that the Government's plan to resume the Sangai Festival before addressing free movement along the National Highways and the rehabilitation of displaced persons demonstrates a clear disregard for the people's plight.
It also questioned how the Tourism Department could approve the festival.
Proceeding with the festival would be unreasonable, NIPCO said and endorsed the resolution taken by IDPs and COCOMI to boycott the Sangai Festival.
People still suffering: CADA
In a press release, CADA stated that tens of thousands of people remain in relief camps and that Meiteis are still unable to travel safely along the National Highways.
CADA described the Government's plan to organise the Sangai Festival amid an ongoing ethnic conflict between the two communities as both surprising and unfortunate.
Emphasising that the Government prioritised the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), it declared that any attempt to portray peace as having returned to Manipur is unacceptable.
CADA urged the Government to redirect funds allocated for the Sangai Festival toward welfare initiatives for IDPs.
Calling for a boycott of the festival, CADA added that it will endorse all actions undertaken by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in opposition to the event.
Macha Leima endorses
Macha Leima said that it will fully endorse the resolution taken by the IDPs to boycott the Sangai Festival.
The organisation claimed that the Government is planning to show normalcy has returned to Manipur by organising the festival.
Pointing out that Meiteis are still unable to travel safely along the highways while IDPs remain in relief camps, it added that the Government's decision to proceed with the festival amid the ongoing crisis is unacceptable.
What people want is not festivity but normalcy, Macha Leima said.